Press Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Hiram Wurf
Cell: 630.854.2889
August 14, 2006
DuPage
Democracy for Illinois
Organizes 'Keep Social Security Secure' Letter Campaign in IL 6th, 13th
and 14th Congressional Districts on Social Security Anniversary
DuPage Residents Write about How Social Security
Affects Them - And Why It Must Stay a Guaranteed Government Benefit
Naperville – Today, on the 71st Anniversary of Social
Security, the government guaranteed social insurance program, DuPage
Democracy for Illinois (DFI) has organized a DuPage-wide letter
campaign to 'Keep Social Security Secure' by writing to congressman and
congressional candidates in the 6th, 13th and 14th Districts.
Individual letters offer personal stories about how Social Security
affects local residents, advocate that the program remain a government
guaranteed benefit and ask members of congress and candidates to
explain their current position if they have supported privatization in
the past or have not made their position on privatization clear.
Republican
Congressman Judy Biggert (IL-13) and Dennis Hastert (IL-14) have
previously supported President George W. Bush's Social Security
privatization proposal that would subject Social Security benefit
payments to risk. Republican State Senator Peter Roskam,
candidate for
the 6th Congressional District
, has not stated his position on the issue and was absent for a
Illinois Senate vote for maintaining Social Security as a government
guaranteed benefit. Democratic candidates Tammy Duckworth (IL-6),
Joe
Shannon (IL-13) and John Laesch (IL-14) all support keeping Social
Security as a government guaranteed benefit.
.
DuPage DFI Leader Hiram Wurf, reflecting on President
Bush's June 27, 2006 speech to the Manhattan Institute, where the
president said that he would try to "reform" Social Security after the
November elections, said,
"The president's Social Security
'reform' is a code word for privatization that would leave Social
Security benefits, currently guaranteed by the federal government, at
risk. Social Security provides secure income for retirees, people
who
have disabilities and survivors of workers who have passed away. Social
Security protects all of us. Keeping Social Security a secure,
guaranteed government benefit isn't a special interest - it's in the
American interest."
DuPage residents in all three congressional districts will mail their
letters today.
About DuPage Democracy for Illinois
Originating
in Howard Dean's 2004 campaign, the group became part of Democracy for
Illinois, a branch of Democracy for America. Monthly meetings di
scuss and organize grassroots activities promoting a fiscally
conservative, socially progressive vision.
About Democracy for Illinois
Democracy
for Illinois is a volunteer organization dedicated to advancing
progressive, grassroots democratic ideals and methods.
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